Electric switch



Jan. 22, 1929.

H. A. DOUGLAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 6. 1928 l l f l l l r l r l,

IIIIIIIIIIII 'I W u L .fi, r p

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES HARRY A. DOUGLAS7 OF BBONSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed February My invention rela-tes to electric switches 0fthe class employing stationary contact-s and electrically connectedspring' pressed movable contacts for bringing the stationary contactsand the circuit wires leading thereto :into and out of circuit and intoand Out of various circuit combinations.

Such switches are used, for example, in controlling the circuits ofautomobile head lamps, the switches, according to their adjustments,causing the head lamps to glow dimly or brightly or to be extinguished.Such switches of the prior art employed metallic spring barrels whichwere mechanically and electrically assembled by means` of floatingmetallic plates, the spring barrels having their end walls formed toconstitute switch contacts which, in riding into and out of engagementwith the stationary contacts complemental thereto, would cause theloating metallic plates to assume various angles during their bodilymovements with the result 'that the spring barrels were apt to bind inthe contact actuators with which they were intended to have slidingengagement.

In carrying out my present invention, spring barrels are employed as apart of the moving elcn'lent of the switch but these spring barrels arenot formed to serve as contacts which are complemental to the tionarbcontacts, there being, however, associated with these spring barrelscontacts that are complemcntal to the stationary contacts and which arespring pressed, to function, by means of sprin which are housed by thespring barrels. A carrier is provided for the spring barrels, thiscarrier being pressed into engagement with an abutment by the aforesaidsprings whereby this carrier is preferably held in a lixed plane ofrotation and with which the spring pressed contacts can not have bindingengagement. Said spring pressed contacts are in electrical con-- nectionto enable them to bridge the stationa ry contacts with which they arebrought into engi gement. In the preferred embodiment of the invention.the electrical connection of tho spring pressed contacts is effectedthrough the intermediation of the spring barrels which are of metal andwith which the spring pressed contacts have sliding engagement, thespring barrels themselves being directly electrically connectedpreferably by means of a metallic plate having holes fort dtherelhrouejh. the portion of the plate niet# 6, 1928. Serial No.252,278.

gining said holes being tightly received within annular grooves that areformed in the barrels.

ln the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion, a casing is employedwhich has two opposite end walls, the stationary contacts being carriedupon one of these walls, which thus constitutes a contact carrier, andexposes within the casing for engagement and which contacts areconstructed for electrical connection therewith of circuit wires led tothe casing. A handle is provided upon the exterior of the casing and ismounted to turn at the other casing end wall in a plane substantiallyparallel therewith, this: other casing end wall serving as one form ofabutment hitherto generally described. A second Contact carrier isprovided, this second contact carrier being` disposed within the casingand coupled with the handle to be turned thereby, this second contactcarrier being held from outward movement by the casing end wall at whichthe handle is disposed and which serves as the abutment that limits theout-ward movement of the second Contact carrier. The spring barrels arecoupled with the aforesaid second contact carrier and turned therewith,the contacts which are complement-al to the stationary contacts beingpreferably disposed within the spring barrels, the springs within thebarrels pressing these contacts into position to be engageable with thestationary contacts and pressing the aforesaid contact carrier againstthe end wall at which the handle is disposed and which end wall servesas the abutment. The contacts which are within the spring barrels andare projected therefrom by the springs are brought into electricalconnection independently of the stationary contacts by means of such ametallic plate has hitherto been described and which is carried by themovable contact carrier.

The invention will be more fully explained by reference to theaccounianying drawing in which Fig. l is a sectional elevationillustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, `parts being'shown in full elevation; Fi Q is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. l;Fig. 3 is a view on a smaller scale showing the relationship of variouscontacts; Fig. l is a sectional view illustrating a step in thei'ireferred method of assembling the spring barrels and the contactcarrier with which they are assembled; Fig. 5 illu-:stratesanodification o? that which is illrmriiied by Jl. it:

and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a niodilication employing thestructural characteristics of Fig. 5.

The easing` has a `liront end wall 1 and a side wall 2, the wall 1 beingessentially flat and the wall 2 being' preferably cylindrical. Themounting cup 3 is suitably assembled with the end walll as by means ofthe rivets 4l. The end wall 1 serves as an abutment as will more fullyhereinafter appear.

The other end wall 5 is preferably in the form ot' a plate or block ofinsulation and constitutes a closure for the cup shaped casing 1, 2. Theend wall 5 is also a. contact carrier, there being contacts that areinclusive ot' inet-allic sieevo portions (i which are provided upon andpassed through the wall Said sleeve portions 6 have flanges 7 at theirinner ends, these flanges being flush with the inner surface ot' thecasing wall or contact carrier 5 so as to be exposed within the casingtor engagement with coinpleii'iental contacts to be described. The contcts upon the carrier 5 are constructed tor electric connection therewithof circuit wires 8 which are led to the casing. As illustrated, thesleeve contact portions 6 are interiorly threaded an d receive nietallicbinding screws 9 which serve 'to clamp the wires 8 against the flanges1() which are provided at the outer ends of said sleeve contactportions.

A handle 11 has a circular hub 12 which passes through a circular hole13 formed in the end wall of the mounting cup and coaXially with thecylindrical casing wall Said hub is formed with two inwardly eX- tendingprojections litand 15 between which the lJ-shaped stirrup 16 is snuglyfitted. A screw 17 serves to clamp the base voit the stirrup against theinner 'tace et the hub, there being a washer 18 between the head of thoscrew and the stirrup. The end portions oit the stirrup lap the end wallot' the mounting cup 3 upon the inner side of this wall while theadjacent portion of the handle that is upon the exterior ot the cup alsolaps the end wall of this cup whereby the handle is confined to a Firedplane ol" rotation which is substantially parallel with the contactcarrier 5 and the end wall 1 of the switch casing. The side portions 1Gof the stirrup 16 extend along the common axis ot the handle and thecasing wall Q, these stirrup side portions being slidiiigly receivedwithin notches 19 which are formed upon the inner side of a ring or bodyet insulation 20 which constitues the Contact carrier that within thecasing and which is to be moved to bring the contacts thereon into andout of engagement with the contact parts 7. A plurality ot electricallyconnected current conducting inetallic spring barrels 21 areiiiredupontheinovable contact carrier 2() and project therefrom towardthe opposite casing wall or contact carrier 5. Metallic contacts 22which are complemental to the contacts upon the wall or carrier 5 arerespectively assembled with the spring barrels 21 and are in currentconducting and sliding or telescopic engagement therewith. Springs 23are provided with said spring barrels and press thereupon loirgitudinally thereof and upon the aroresaid coinplemental contactswhereby said conipleniental contacts are placed into position to beengageable with the stationary contacts upon the carrier 5 and thecontact carrier 20 is pressed against the casing end wall 1 which servesan abutment to limit the extent to which carrier 2O may be outwardlymoved and which abutment contines this carrier to ay substantially fixedplane ot' rotation. The carrier 20 is thus not required to nieve alongthe axis ot the handle and is, thereiore, not liable to tilt or warpduring the operation oi the switch, the contacts 22 being guided intheir bodily movements only by the spring barrels respectivelyindividual thereto and whose axes are maintained substantially parallelwith the axis of the handle. The spring barrels being metallic, and thecontacts having current conducting engagement therewith, said contactsmay be brought into electrical connection with each other by means oi ametallic plate 24 which is desirably in the `torni of a ring ythat isheld in iii-:ed assenibly with the insulating rino' 2O by the stems 25of the spring barrels.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the spring barrels are inthe form of ings and have annular grooves between the spring receivingbody portions oi the barrels and the stems of the barrels, these groovesbeing formed by means of the annular shoulA ders 25 which are spacedapart irom the body portions ot the barrels. The metallic plate 241 istermed with holes therethrough through which the stems 25 are passed,the portions of said plate which margin the holes through the platebeing tightly received iii the grooves between the shoulders 2o and thebodies of the barrels. The carrier 2O is also formed with holes 2T whichhave enlargements 28 and 29 whereby annular slioulders 30 are lett. T heouter ends et the sten'is QV, which are hollow, are expanded within thehole enlargements 29, by a riveting op eration which serves to draw theshoulders 26 toward the shoulders 30 and to bring the plate Q1 tightlyagainst the inner tace oil the contact. carrying ring 20. ne variousspring pressed contacts 22 are eliectively elecn trically connected byreason `ol their sliding engagement with their spring barrelsrespectively complemental thereto and the connection of these springbarrels by the metallic plate 24.

ln the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the spring barrels areformed into shape instead of being cast, the plate being gripped betweenthe bodies ot the spring barrels and the beads 26 that are 'formed uponthe barrel stems 25. The outer ends oic the barrel stems are expandedinto the contact carrier 20 and in a manner to bring the beads 2Gagainst the shoulders 30 which result from the formation ot holes 2lthrough the carrier 20 and the enlargements 28 ot' these holes.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. ln an electric switch, the combination with a casing having twoopposite end walls; oi contacts carried by one oiLl said end walls andexposed within the casing tor engagement and constructed :tor theelectrical coin nection therewith oit circuit wires led to the casing; ahandle upon the exterior ol the casing and mounted to turn at the othercasing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; a contactcarrier within the casing and coupled with the handle to be turnedthereby, this contact carrier being' held from outward movement by thelatter casing end wall; a plurality of current conducting spring barrelstixed upon said contact carrier and projecting therefrom toward thecasing end wall that carries the at'ore said contacts; said contactcarrier being inclusive of a metallic plate having holes formedtherethrough and said spring barrels being Aformed with annular groovesin which the. portions of said plate margining said holes are tightlyreceived, whereby said barrels are electrically connected, said Contactcarrier also being inclusive ot a body ot insul ation that is interposedbetween the atoresaid plate and the casing end wall at which the handleis disposed; said spring barrels having continuations that enter saidinsulating body and are clinched into assembly therewith.; contactscomplemental to the atoresaid contacts, said spring barrels each havingone oit these coinplemental contacts in current conducting and slidingengage nient therewith; and springs within said spring barrels andpressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and upon said complementalcontacts, whereby said complei'nental contacts are placed in position tobe engageable with the first aforesaid contacts and said contact.carrier is pressed against the casing cnd wall at which the handle isdisposed.

2. ln an electric switch; the combination with a casing having twoopposite end walls; ot contacts carried by one oit said end walls andexposed within the casing ttor engageinent and constructed 'tor theelectrical connection therewith oit circuit wires led to the casing; ahandle upon the exterior o' the casing and mounted to turn at the othercasing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; a contactcarrier within. the casing and coupled with the handle to be turnedthereby; this contact ca rier being held 'troni outward movement by thelatter casing end wall; a plurality ot current conducting spring barrelstixed upon said contact carrier` and projecting therefrom toward thecasing end wall that carries the aforesaid contacts, said contactcarrier being inclusive ot a inetallic plate having holes formedtherethrough and said spring barrels being formed with annular groovesin which the portions oit said plate marginine said holes are tightlyreceived, whereby said barrels are electrically connecterl i contactscomplemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels each havingone ot these coinpleniental contacts in current conducting and stdingengagement therewith; and springs within said spring bari-ls andpressing thereupon longitudinally thereot and upon said complementalcontacts, whereby said comple mental contacts are placed in position tobe engageable with the iirst aforesaid contacts and said contact carrieris pressed against the casing end wall at which the handle disposed.

3. In an electric switch, the combination. with a casing having twoopposite end walls; ot contacts carried by one ot said end walls andexposed within the casing 'lior engagement and constructed tor theelectrical connection therewith ol circuit wires led to the casing; ahandle upon the exterior oit the casing and mounted to turn at the othercasing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; contactcarrier within the cas ing and coupled with the handle to be turnedthereby; this contact carrier being hel d from outward movement by thelatter casing end wall; a plurality ot spring barrels hzied upon saidcontact carrier and projecting therefrom toward the casing end wall thatcarries the atoresaid contacts, d Contact carrier heing inclusive oli abody ot insulation, said spring barrels having continuations that entersaid insulating body and are clinched into assi, nbly therewith;electrically connected contaots complemental to the aforesaid contacts,said spring barrels each having one et these complementa] contacts insliding engagement therewith; and springs within n said spring barrelsand pressing thereupon lon; ;i tudinally thereot and upon saidcomplemental contacts; wl'iereby said complemental coutacts are placedin 'position to he 'cable with the First aroresaid contacts and saincontact carrier is pressed against the casing end wall at which thehandle is disposed.

4l. In an electric switclu the combination with a casing having twoopposite cnil walls; ot contact-s carried by one ol said end walls andexposed within the casing tor engagement and constructed tor theelectrical connection therewith ot circuit wires led to the casing; a.handle upon the exterior ot the cas eng ing` and mounted to turn at theother casing end wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; acontact carrier within the casing` and coupled with the handle to beturned thereby, this contact carrier being` held from outward movementby the latter casing end wall; a plurality of current conducting springbarrels lined upon. said contact carrier and projecting therefrom towardthe casing` end wall that carries the aforesaid contacts, said contactcarrier being` inclusive of a metallic plate, said spring barrels beingform-ed with grooves in which port-ions of said plate are tightlyreceived, whereby said barrels are electricr lly connected, said contactcarrier also being' inclusive of a. body of insulation that isinterposed. between the aforesaid pla-te and the casing' end wall atwhich the handle disposed, said spring barrels having` continuationsthat enter said insulating bod)7 and are clinched into assemblytherewith; contacts eomplemental to the aforesaid contacts, said springbarrels each having one of these complemental contacts in currentconducting` and slidingY engagement therewith; and springs within saidspringl barrels and pressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and uponsaid complemental contacts, whereby said complemental contacts areplaced in position to be engageable with the first aforesaid contactsand said contact carrier is pressed against the casing end wall at whichthe .handle is disposed.

5. ln an electric switch, the combination with a casing having` twoopposite end walls; of contacts carried by one of said end walls andexposed within the casing for engagement and constructed for theelectrical connection therewith of circuit wires le-d to the casing; ahandle upon the exterior of the casing' and mounted to turn at the othercasing); en d wall in a plane substantially parallel therewith; acontact carrier with in the casing' and coupled with the handle to beturned thereby, this contact carrier being held from outward movement bythe latter' casing end wall; a plurality of current conducting` spring'barrels fixed. upon said contact carrier an( projfec o' 'therefromtoward the casingl wall ti y carries the aforesaid contacts, contactcarrier being .inclusive of a inelic plate, said. spring; barrels beingformed with grooves in which portions of said plate are ti chtlyreceived, whereby said barrels are electricall),7 connected; contactscomplemental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring bai'- rels carohaving one of these complemental contacts in current conducting andsliding` engagement therewith; and springs within said spring bai ls andpressing thereupon longitudinally thereof and upon said complementacontacts, whereby said complemental contacts are place-d in position. tobe engageable with the first aforesaid contacts and said Contact carrieris pressed against the casing end wall at which the handle .is disposed.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a stationary conta-ctcarrier and a movable contact carrier, said carriers having` opposing'faces; of contacts upon the stationary carrier and exposed forengagement at the face thereof which is opposite the movable carrier andconstructed for the electrical connection therewith of circuit wires; aplurality of spring barrels lined upon said movable Contact carrier andprojecting therefrom toward the other contact carrier; said movablecontact carrier beingv inclusive of a body of insulation, said spring'barrels haviJ 'f tinuations that enter said insulating body and areclinched into assembly therewith; electrically connected contactscompleniental to the aforesaid contacts, said spring barrels eachhaving' one of these complemental contacts in sliding' engagementtherewith; springs within said springv barrels and pressing thereuponlongitudinally thereof and upon said compleniental contacts; and anabutment agaiist which said springs also press the movable contactcarrier.

7. ln an electric switch, the combination with a stationary contactcarrier and a movable contact carrier, said carriers having opposing'faces; of contacts upon the stationary carrier and exposed forengagement at the face 'thereof which is opposite the movable carrierand constructed for the electrical connection therewith of circuitwires; a plurality of current conduct-ing spring' barrels lined uponsaid movable contact carrier and projecting` therefrom toward the othercontact carrier, said movable contact carrier being' inclusive of ametallic plate having holes formed therethrough and said spring' barrelsbeing formed with annular grooves in which the port-ions of said platemargining said holes are tightly received, whereby said barrels areelectrically connected; contacts complemental to the aforesaid contacts,said spring barrels each having one of these coniplemental contacts incurrent conducti and sliding enga-gement tl'ierewith; springs withinsaid s prin g barrels and `aressin 1 there u pon longitudinally thereofand upon s l complemental contacts; and an abutment ao'ainst which saidsprings also press the n'iovable contact carrier, said movable Contact calso beine' inclusive of a body of insula n that .i s interposed betweenthe id pla-tc and abutment, said spring bari j continuations that entersaid insulati and are clinched into assembly thereiy un.

ln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A.. DUGLAS.

